Grip for a camera

Abstract

A grip for a camera including a grip body, a fixing mechanism having a manually operable member fixing the grip body to the camera body in a predetermined state and a movable covering for covering the manually operable member of the fixing mechanism.

What we claim is: 
     
       1. A camera comprising: (A) a camera body; and   (B) a foldable grip having: (B-1) a grip body;   (B-2) attaching means for attaching said grip body to said camera body so that the grip body is pivotable between a folded and an unfolded position relative to the camera body;   (B-3) locking means for locking said grip body relative to said camera body at said unfolded position of the grip body;   (B-4) manually operable means operable for releasing the locking of said grip body relative to said camera body by said locking means; and   (B-5) covering means attached to said grip body and movable relative thereto for covering and uncovering said manually operable means, said covering means being movable to cover said grip body when said grip body is locked by said locking means at said unfolded position.     
     
     
       2. A grip for a camera having a camera body, comprising: a grip body;   manually operable fixing means for fixing said grip body to the camera body at a position to enable manual holding of said camera, said fixing means having a manually operable member; and   covering means for covering said manually operable member of said fixing means in a condition that said grip body is fixed at said camera holding position;   said covering means being attached to said grip body and slidable between a covering and an uncovering position relative to said manually operable member of said fixing means.   
     
     
       3. A grip according to claim 2, wherein said covering means is arranged to form a grip portion of the grip together with said grip body when covering said manually operable member of said fixing means. 
     
     
       4. A camera comprising: a camera body; and a foldable grip having a grip body, attaching means for attaching said grip body to said camera body so that the grip body is pivotable between a folded and an unfolded position relative to the camera body, locking means for locking said grip body relative to said camera body at said unfolded position of the grip body, manually operable means operable for releasing the locking of said grip body relative to said camera body by said locking means, and covering means for covering said manually operable means, said covering means being attached to said grip body and pivotable between a covering and an uncovering position relative to said manually operable means. 
     
     
       5. A camera comprising: a camera body; and a foldable grip having a grip body, attaching means for attaching said grip body to said camera body so that the grip body is pivotable between a folded and an unfolded position relative to the camera body, locking means for locking said grip body relative to said camera body at said unfolded position of the grip body, manually operable means operable for releasing the locking of said grip body relative to said camera body by said locking means, and covering means for covering said manually operable means, said covering means being attached to said grip body and slidable between a covering and an uncovering position relative to said manually operable means. 
     
     
       6. A camera comprising: a camera body; and a foldable grip having a grip body, attaching means for attaching said grip body to said camera body so that the grip body is pivotable between a folded and an unfolded position relative to the camera body, locking means for locking said grip body relative to said camera body at said unfolded position of the grip body, manually operable means operable for releasing the locking of said grip body relative to said camera body by said locking means, and covering means for covering said manually operable means, said covering means being detachable from said grip body. 
     
     
       7. A camera comprising: a camera body; and a foldable grip having a grip body, attaching means for attaching said grip body to said camera body so that the grip body is pivotable between a folded and an unfolded position relative to the camera body, locking means for locking said grip body relative to said camera body at said unfolded position of the grip body, manually operable means operable for releasing the locking of said grip body relative to said camera body by said locking means, and covering means for covering said manually operable means, said covering means being arranged to form a grip portion of the grip together with said grip body when covering said manually operable means. 
     
     
       8. A camera comprising: a camera body; and a foldable grip having a grip body, attached means for attaching said grip body to said camera body so that the grip body is pivotable between a folded and an unfolded position relative to the camera body, locking means for locking said grip body relative to said camera body at said unfolded position of the grip body, manually operable means operable for releasing the locking of said grip body relative to said camera body by said locking means, and covering means for covering said manually operable means, said grip body having a chamber for receiving therein a battery and an opening for said chamber, said covering means being arranged to cover said opening when covering said manually operable means. 
     
     
       9. A grip attachable to a camera body, comprising: a grip body;   attaching means for attaching said grip body to said camera body, said attaching means having manually operable means; and   covering means for covering said manually operable means of said attaching means;   said covering means being attached to said grip body and slidable between a covering and an uncovering position relative to said manually operable means of said attaching means.   
     
     
       10. A grip attachable to a camera body, comprising: a grip body;   attaching means for attaching said grip body to said camera body, said attaching means having manually operable means; and   covering means for covering said manually operable means of said attaching means;   said camera body having a receiving portion for receiving a tripod, said attaching means being arranged to fixedly attach said grip body to said receiving portion of said camera body.   
     
     
       11. A grip attached to a camera body, comprising: a grip body;   attaching means for attaching said grip body to said camera body, said attaching means having manually operable means; and   covering means for covering said manually operable means of said attaching means;   said attaching means including coupling means for pivotably coupling said grip body to said camera body so that the grip body is pivotable between a folded and an unfolded position relative to the camera body, said coupling means having a manually operable member, said covering means being arranged to cover said manually operable member of said coupling means.   
     
     
       12. A grip according to claim 11, wherein said attaching means further includes locking means for locking said grip body relative to said camera body at said unfolded position of the grip body, said locking means having a manually operable member; and wherein said covering means is further arranged to cover said manually operable member of said locking means. 
     
     
       13. A grip for a camera having a camera body, comprising: a grip body;   manually operable fixing means for fixing said grip body to the camera body at a position to enable manual holding of said camera, said fixing means having a manually operable member; and   covering means for covering said manually operable member of said fixing means in a condition that said grip body is fixed at said camera holding position, said covering means being detachable from said grip body.   
     
     
       14. A grip for a camera having a camera body, comprising: a grip body;   manually operable fixing means for fixing said grip body to the camera body at a position to enable manual holding of said camera, said fixing means having a manually operable member; and   covering means for covering said manually operable member of said fixing means in a condition that said grip body is fixed at said camera holding position;   said grip body having a chamber for receiving therein a battery and an opening for said chamber, said covering means being arranged to cover said opening when covering said manually operable member of said fixing means.   
     
     
       15. A grip according to claim 14, wherein said grip body is attached to said camera body and pivotable between a folded and an unfolded position relative to the camera body; and wherein said fixing means is arranged to lock said grip body relative to said camera body at said unfolded position of the grip body. 
     
     
       16. A grip attachable to the body of a camera, comprising: a grip body;   attaching means for attaching said grip body to said camera body at a position to enable manual holding of said camera, said attaching means having manually operable means; and   covering means for covering said manually operable means of said attaching means in a condition that said grip body is attached at said camera holding position, said covering means being attached to said grip body and slidable between a covering an an uncovering position relative to said manually operable means of said attaching means.   
     
     
       17. A grip attachable to the body of a camera, comprising: a grip body;   attaching means for attaching said grip body to said camera body at a position to enable manual holding of said camera, said attaching means having manually operable means; and   covering means for covering said manually operable means of said attaching means in a condition that said grip body is attached at said camera holding position, said covering means being detachable from said grip body.   
     
     
       18. A grip according to claim 17, wherein said covering means is attached to said grip body and pivotable between a covering and an uncovering position relative to said manually operable means to said attaching means. 
     
     
       19. A grip according to claim 17, wherein said covering means is arranged to form a grip portion of the grip together with said grip body when covering said manually operable means of said attaching means. 
     
     
       20. A grip attachable to the body of a camera, comprising: a grip body;   attaching means for attaching said grip body to said camera body at a position to enable manual holding of said camera, said attaching means having manually operable means; and   covering means for covering said manually operable means of said attaching means in a condition that said grip body is attached at said camera holding position;   said grip body having a chamber for receiving therein a battery and an opening for said chamber, said covering means being arranged to cover said opening when covering said manually operable means of said attaching means.   
     
     
       21. A grip attachable to the body of a camera, comprising: a grip body;   attaching means for attaching said grip body to said camera body at a position to enable manual holding of said camera, said attaching means having manually operable means; and   covering means for covering said manually operable means of said attaching means in a condition that said grip body is attached at said camera holding position;   said camera body having a receiving portion for receiving a tripod, said attaching means being arranged to fixedly attach said grip body to said receiving portion of said camera body.   
     
     
       22. A grip attachable to the body of a camera, comprising: a grip body;   attaching means for attaching said grip body to said camera body at a position to enable manual holding of said camera, said attaching means having manually operable means; and   covering means for covering said manually operable means of said attaching means in a condition that said grip body is attached at said camera holding position;   said attaching means including coupling means for pivotably coupling said grip body to said camera body so that the grip body is pivotable between a folded and an unfolded position relative to the camera body, said coupling means having a manually operable member, said covering means being arranged to cover said manually operable member of said coupling means.   
     
     
       23. A grip according to claim 22, wherein said attaching means further includes locking means for locking said grip body relative to said camera body at said unfolded position of the grip body, said locking means having a manually operable member; and wherein said covering means is further arranged to cover said manually operable member of said locking means.